We have rules. They're not the ones you're thinking of.
The first thing to know about Nineteenth Society is that we have a position on the dress code. The position is that the dress code was written by people who weren't picturing us.
We're not against the dress code. We're against pretending it was ever for us. Khaki was not invented in our honor. The collar requirement was not a friend to anyone with a chest. The "no leggings" rule was a hill someone died on for reasons that did not survive a once-over in good light.
So we're choosing to ignore parts of it. Not all of it. The parts where it isn't already ignoring us.
The dress code was written by people who weren't picturing us.
Rules we're keeping
If you'd wear it to the patio, you can wear it on the tee. The patio is the whole point. The tee is just where you wait for the patio. The outfit was built backwards.
Hat optional, brim earned. Some days are golden hour days. Some days are bun-and-go days. Both count.
Skirt, pants, shorts, dress. Any of them, all of them, none of them. (None of them is also a season. See: late June, Florida, club with AC. We've been told.)
Shoes you can walk a long patio in. The 19th hole is not always near the parking lot. The shoes have to make it.
A bandana is not a costume. A bandana is a flag. A bandana is also extremely practical when your ponytail has opinions in August.
Rules we're not keeping
No, we don't need to tuck it in.
No, the visor is not making a comeback.
No, we're not wearing white pants in May.
No, the rules from 1987 about sleeve length are not in effect.
No, we're not getting changed in the parking lot before going inside for a drink. We came in the outfit. The outfit is the outfit.
This is the part where someone usually says but the dress code is there for a reason.
It is. We agree. The reason is that someone, at some point, didn't want a particular kind of person showing up. That's the only reason a dress code has ever existed in the history of clubs. The dress code is doing its job.
We just don't agree with the job.
So we're going to come dressed. In whatever we wanted to wear. On whatever terms we decided. And we're going to be friendly about it, because we don't actually need anyone's permission. We're just here.
This is House Rules. Edition 01. There are going to be more of these. We have opinions about pace of play. We have opinions about gimmes. We have opinions about whether you can take a mulligan on the first tee. (Yes. Always yes. The first tee was practice and we all know it.)
For now: come dressed.
ā The Nineteenth Society
P.S. If you don't know which member you are yet, take the quiz. It'll tell you what's already in your bag and what's missing.
P.P.S. Send this to whoever in your group needs the ammunition. It'll feel less like a fight if she has the receipt in writing.